Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Ramping Up for Christmas

Barbara commented on my ambitious goals for December: Are you trying to put the rest of us to shame?Not at all! There's no way I'm getting this all done. Instead, I'm going to fall flat on my face, end up rushing out on Dec. 23 to get substitute gifts before we drive to NH on Christmas eve, and everyone will feel better about themselves!

I'm doing this for you.

We have a $10 Pollyana at work (of the Yankee Swap variety). I have to bring a gender-neutral gift. I was going to make a nice card telling the recipient I'd knit a scarf for them, color, style and material of their choice. When I was stamping last night, I asked what people thought of the idea. They nixed it. They said that unless people saw the scarf, they wouldn't be inclined to steal it. I don't particularly care if my gift gets stolen, but they really weren't thrilled by the idea of the scarf. And these are people who are crafters. Maybe that's why? (My doctor, otoh, was really impressed by Reed's Stocking. He said I had "skillz" with a "z" because he also calls me "girl." As in, "You're doing really well, girl." He says, "Hey, girl" to all the women in his office. The way he says it isn't infantilizing--he himself looks about 12--you can tell it's short for girlfriend. In all, a disconcerting experience. But I digress. He loved my simple seed-stitch scarf that has seen better days. Maybe I should just knit a scarf for him, since I could tell he would really appreciate it.)

At any rate, $10? Does $10 even buy anything any more? I feel like giving up before I even go shopping to see what kind of gender-neutral (hard enough in itself) cheap-o thing I can find. I'm thinking of a $10 gift card to Starbucks or Wawa, even though I wouldn't want those things. This is making me fall out of the Christmas spirit entirely. Sigh.

18 comments:

It's a stretch, but one year I gave a couple of 5 dollar Lottery Tickets (scratchers) and the guy won a hundred bucks. Either that or a gift certificate from a really great Cheesesteak place. I'd like that for me. One with please!

I'd sit up and do tricks for a handmade scarf. Seriously. I think it's a brilliant idea. The better half and I are in agreement that gift certificates suck. That said, I notice that a lot of people actually like them. Like my brother and his wife. (But if you knew my brother, you'd know what I'm saying. LOL.)

And hey, I really appreciate you making all that effort for the rest of us. You really are too good. ;)

Wow gender neutral is hard. I like the scarf, but it would be worth way more than 10 bucks!

There will probably be a lot of gift cards cause what can you get for 10 bucks without having someone or gender in mind. Thankfully I don't have a gift exchanging office.

On another note I applaud you for having X-mas goals. I have 2...finish a towel for my brother and make an ornament for another brother. This I can do. ( Don't ask about the other projects that I was supposed to go that never got off the ground.) I think I am going to make myself do a x-mas in Feb to get started on them for next year!

$10 gift card for Target or Walmart (bet they're not referring to their sales as doorbusters). Fleece scarf or hat from sierratradingpost.com--sometimes they have sale stuff that low. Old fashioned hard-to-find candies (from when we were kids) at vermontcountrystore.com. A couple of Baileys or some other liqueur miniatures. A Christmas ornament. A collapsible umbrella from TJ Maxx or Kohl's or some other discount place. I also like the knit scarf, but maybe I'm projecting: I'm a miser with my time, so I wouldn't want to do it, even though I knit.

WAWA! Damnit, Gumby! I forgot all about WAWA! When I lived in NJ I couldn't say "I'm going to the WAWA" without practically peeing myself. (My office mates were not amused). Please stop in and say hello for me, will ya?

I started the wine tradition here several years ago, and it was a big hit with my old office. My "new" office has decided we can only exchange ornaments, which is annoying those who don't do trees for their holidays.

I find funky office toys to be great items. Captain Underpants was the star of one exchange a couple of years ago. Anything that's fairly popular with the kids can be a good choice or something nostalgic like Barrels of Monkeys or Magic Eightballs.

I like the wine, starbucks ideas. Instead of baking cookie you could do the cookie in a jar thing? I will say, when you asked the question I thought about our work exchange last year, DVD's were a big hit, there was a gas card, and a toy that farted. Other than that I don't remember what I brought or went home with but I thought that toy that farted would be lots of fun:-).

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